Project 3: Support for the training of masters and PhD students for combating HIV/AIDS and TB and new interventions in HIV/AIDS and TB

PROJECT AIM

Research Scholars Programme in HIV/AIDS and TB

Project background

South Africa has a significant burden of the dual epidemics of H IV/AIDS and TB, which places significant strain on the health system

Realisation that there is a need to enhance our country’s understanding and management of these dual epidemics, but there is a possibility of turning this adversity into a positive by establishing South Africa as a centre of leadership in the management of these epidemics

The Masters and PhD scholarships will be awarded to South African citizens who wish to pursue research into clinical, health systems, and biomedical sciences in the fields of HIV/AIDS and TB

This will be part of the Clinical Scholars Programme of the NDoH managed through the Medical Research Council (MRC) and will focus on transformation within the health system, with a focus on female empowerment

The aim of this Programme is to produce up to 1 000 (one thousand) PhD graduates in different areas of expertise over the next 10 (ten) years

A selection committee will convene through the auspices of the National Health Research Committee in conjunction with a representative of the PHEF to select the recipients

PHEF commitment

The PHEF has contributed approximately ten million Rand in 2013 in support of this initiative and this will be administered through the MRC. A contract stipulating the conditions of the award has been entered into with each of the candidates

Progress on the project

The National Health Research Committee in partnership with the Medical Research Council (MRC) selected 24 students to do the research on HIV/AIDS and TB. Only 22 of the researchers are still on the programme and are funded through the PHEF

The ten million Rand has been transferred to the MRC for the PhD students who commenced their classes in March 2014